Unlike a blank white paper, each individual’s skin tone and color will be different. Each skin color and skin pigmentation is like a different background layer of the painting, so each design will not appear on each person’s skin exactly the same.

Differences in skin and tones

SKIN COLOR: Human skin color has many pigments, from dark to light. The color of the skin is due to the amount of melanin pigment in the skin, too much will darken the skin, and too little will make the skin lighter

SKINTONE: is the color of the skin that we can easily recognize with the naked eye through each person’s external skin color. Skintone easily changes over time, seasonally or depending on each person’s skincare style or impacts from the external environment.

MELANIN: is a pigment created by small parts in the basal layer of our skin, found in the outer layer called the epidermis. It determines our skin color and tone, inherited from our family’s genes. Melanin shields our skin from harmful UV rays and alters the appearance of tattoo pigment underneath it.

Type of skin color and skin tone

SKIN COLOR: There are many different types of skin COLOR, of which there are 3 basic types: light skin, medium skin, dark skin/ brown skin.

SKIN COLOR TONE: Different from your actual skin color (skin tone), the undertone is the shade of the skin, the color underneath the skin.

It is more difficult for you to recognize undertones because they are determined by the amount of melanin pigment underneath the skin.

UNDERTONE HAS 3 BASIC TYPES:

• A cool undertone (Cool) indicates pink, red, or slightly blue skin tones (cool undertone colors).
• A warm undertone (Warm) indicates yellow, and brown skin tones (warm tone colors).
• A neutral undertone is a mixture of pink and yellow tones or none of both tones.

Factors that can be influenced by skin color include:

VISIBILITY AND CONTRAST

The visibility and contrast of a tattoo design can be influenced by the skin tone of the person. Lighter skin tones may provide more contrast for darker ink colors, making the tattoo design more vibrant and visible.

On the other hand, darker skin tones may require adjustments in the ink colors and shading techniques to ensure the tattoo stands out effectively.

COLOR CHOICE

Skin tone can influence the choice of ink color for a tattoo. Some colors may appear differently on various skin tones.

Therefore, we may be limited in selecting colors for the design. Bright colors may not have the desired effect when tattooed on darker skin. It’s important to consider this carefully and seek advice from the tattoo artist before making a decision.

Black is often recommended for dark skin tones due to its high contrast, depth, and favorable effect on the skin.

However, this doesn’t mean that color cannot be used on black skin. We need to tailor the color combination to each individual’s skin tone. Unlike some colors that can be applied directly on white skin, we must adjust the approach accordingly

HEALING PROCESS

Skin tone can impact the appearance of a tattoo during the healing process. For instance, people with lighter skin tones may experience more noticeable redness and inflammation around the tattoo site initially, while those with darker skin tones may experience less visible signs of inflammation.

LONG-TERM APPEARANCE

Over time, tattoos may fade or change in appearance due to factors like sun exposure, aging, and skin tone. Lighter skin tones may show signs of fading and aging more prominently compared to darker skin tones.

In addition, we need to proactively care for and protect the tattoo properly, regardless of skin tone, in order to help prolong its lifespan.

For free tattoo design and consultation, and perfect tattoos on all skin tones, you can visit Hyper Inkers Tattoo Studio!